Sketch of the ancient cosmotheologies

Front matter

In Memory of

The Reverend Hjortur B. Leo and

SKETCH

Introduction

( Ancient Cosmotheologies.)

In this treatise are brought side by side the several fundamental ideas, entertained in the principal ancient systems of religion of the earth, concerning the origin and government of the world. Thus the reader may be able to know something about those, several systems of ideas.

It will be noticed I have given a general sketch, at least sufficiently full to afford a just conception of them, of the most important ancient religions of the Eastern hemisphere, and then of the p^estern. Those peoples, it is seen, were separated from each othej* in two ways, first by their locations on the sphere, some of these being antipodal to each other; and, secondly, by their language. It can be readily conceived, therefore, that their cosmogonies! severally, or their ideas concerning the origin of the world, as wdll as their ideas concerning the originator of the world or God, would, most likely, be their own.

This, therefore, is what the investigator requires, as he wishes to have on those subjects the real and bona-fide beliefs of these peoples themselves, by which he will be able to draw an intelligent and independent conclusion either of them severally or by comparison with each other; and then he may reason with himself concerning the principle in mankind at large, from which arises the belief in a supernatural origination and government of the Tvorld.

The Phoenician Cosmogonies, which are esteemed as interesting and desirable to possess as they are rare to be met with, I place first and allow them to speak for themselves.

Of the “ Sketch of the Ancient Cosmotheologies’ % which means a sketch of the ancient religions of the world, I may remark that though some of the accounts as given here may appear brief, yet they will be found to contain sufficient on those subjects, more especially when viewed in connection with my other treatises bearing on theology, ethnology, historic origins, etc., and when it is considered how little is known about some of those religions, as for

(ni)

IV

INTRODUCTION.

example about the Druidical religion of the Gauls or Celts on the continent of Europe and in the British isles. These ancient religions, when properly thought of in connection with the existing religions and with the cosmical phenomena, terrestrial and universal, will be found as interesting as they are profitable to contemplate.

In regard, for example, to the cause of the origin of certain religious beliefs and institutions both in the Eastern and Western hemisphere how much there has been written both by Spanish padres and by German and English writers to show the belief of those writers in the Hebraic origin of the ancient Americans. Thq reader will here be enabled, — sufficient data on the subject being afforded him, — to reason independently concerning those ancient American peoples, and as to whether those beliefs and institutions which they had in common with the Hebrews and with other peoples of the Eastern hemisphere may have originated in that hemisphere or in the Western and in some principle common to human nature everywhere.

R. S.

BY

ROBERT SHAW, M. A.

AUTHOR OF

CREATOR AND COSMOS; OF COSMOTHEOLOGIES AND INDICATIONS OF JUDGMENT? OF & CRITIQUE OF THE HISTORY OF ANCIENT EGYPT; OF A CRITIQUE OF THE HIS- TORY OF THE SCOTTS OR GAELS OF THE BRITISH ISLES | OF THE CHALDAEA^N AND HEBREW AND THE CHINESE AND HINDOO ORIGINES, ETC.

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Table Of Contents

PAGES.

The Theology and Cosmogonies of the Phoenicians through Philo of Biblos’ Greek translation of

Sanchuhiatho’s Phoenician History. 1-30